Shloka 44

पितृमरणश्रवणं जलक्रिया च

Hearing of Daśaratha’s death and the libation rites at Mandākinī

Devanagari script

तेन शब्देन वित्रस्तैराकाशं पक्षिभिर्वृतम्।मनुष्यैरावृता भूमिरुभयं प्रबभौ तदा।।।।

Transliteration

tena śabdena vitrastair ākāśaṃ pakṣibhir vṛtam |

manuṣyair āvṛtā bhūmir ubhayaṃ prababhau tadā ||

Translation

Durch jenen Laut füllten die erschrockenen Vögel den Himmel, und die Menschen bedeckten die Erde; so erschienen damals Himmel und Erde beide in eindringlicher Deutlichkeit.

Word by Word

तेनby that

शब्देनby the sound

वित्रस्तैःby frightened

आकाशम्the sky

पक्षिभिःwith birds

वृतम्covered, filled

मनुष्यैःby people

आवृताcovered

भूमिःearth

उभयम्both (sky and earth)

प्रबभौshone forth, appeared striking

तदाthen

Context

The sky was filled with birds frightened by the sound and the earth covered with people. Both looked extremely beautiful.

Characters & Entities

ākāśa (sky)

bhūmi (earth)

pakṣi (birds)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma here is communal: society gathers around the dhārmic center (Rāma). The ‘filling’ of earth and sky suggests that moral events are not private—they involve the whole world.

What is the narrative situation?

Birds crowd the sky in alarm while people throng the ground, creating an overwhelming scene.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The people’s steadfast concern and reverence for Rāma (implicit), strong enough to draw multitudes together.